Bhagavad Gita · Verse 2.5
Chapter 2: Sankhya Yoga (सांख्ययोगः)
(Arjuna said)
गुरूनहत्वा हि महानुभावान् श्रेयो भोक्तुं भैक्ष्यमपीह लोके । हत्वार्थकामांस्तु गुरूनिहैव भुञ्जीय भोगान् रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् ॥५॥
gurūnahatvā hi mahānubhāvān śreyo bhoktuṃ bhaikṣyamapīha loke | hatvārthakāmāṃstu gurūnihaiva bhuñjīya bhogān rudhirapradigdhān ||5||
Complete Shloka Translation
Better to live by begging here than to kill these great teachers. If I killed them, though they seek material gain, my pleasures would be stained with blood.
Word-by-Word Translation (Padartha / Anvaya)
| Sanskrit Term (पद) | IAST Roman | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| भैक्ष्यम् | bhaikṣyam | alms |
| रुधिरप्रदिग्धान् | rudhirapradigdhān | stained with blood |
| गुरूनहत्वा | gurūnahatvā | [term] in context of Better to live by begging here... |
| हि | hi | [term] in context of Better to live by begging here... |
| महानुभावान् | mahānubhāvān | [term] in context of Better to live by begging here... |
| श्रेयो | śreyo | [term] in context of Better to live by begging here... |
| भोक्तुं | bhoktuṃ | [term] in context of Better to live by begging here... |
| भैक्ष्यमपीह | bhaikṣyamapīha | [term] in context of Better to live by begging here... |
| लोके | loke | [term] in context of Better to live by begging here... |
| हत्वार्थकामांस्तु | hatvārthakāmāṃstu | [term] in context of Better to live by begging here... |
| गुरूनिहैव | gurūnihaiva | [term] in context of Better to live by begging here... |
| भुञ्जीय | bhuñjīya | [term] in context of Better to live by begging here... |
| भोगान् | bhogān | [term] in context of Better to live by begging here... |
alms
stained with blood
[term] in context of Better to live by begging here...
[term] in context of Better to live by begging here...
[term] in context of Better to live by begging here...
[term] in context of Better to live by begging here...
[term] in context of Better to live by begging here...
[term] in context of Better to live by begging here...
[term] in context of Better to live by begging here...
[term] in context of Better to live by begging here...
[term] in context of Better to live by begging here...
[term] in context of Better to live by begging here...
[term] in context of Better to live by begging here...
Detailed Commentary & Meaningful Thoughts
This is Arjuna's argument, not Krishna's conclusion. Arthakaman is rendered as seeking material gain; its characterization of the teachers needs contextual review.
Philosophical Reflection & Self-Inquiry
"Arjuna questions whether victory could have value at such a cost."
Inquiry Question to Ponder:
What cost could make an apparent gain lose its value?
Modern Life Implementation (Practical Real-Life Application)
Apply this verse when facing identity crisis or fear of failure: distinguish the unchanging inner self from transient life situations, and act with full dedication without anxiety over the final outcome.